Runnin' Bulldogs Drop Two at Charlotte on Tuesday
March 16, 2011 | Softball
Charlotte, N.C. - The Runnin' Bulldogs struggled to find its offense in game one, falling to Charlotte 5-0, but found it in game two to score nine runs on 11 hits, only to be haunted by an eight run fifth inning by the 49ers in an 11-9 loss in the second game of the non-conference twin bill in Charlotte, N.C.
The back-to-back losses drops the Runnin' Bulldogs to 6-14, while Charlotte improves to 13-12 overall with the two wins.
Game 1: Charlotte 5, Gardner-Webb 0
Game one saw a pitcher's duel for most of the contest, until the 49ers posted a five run sixth to defeat the Runnin' Bulldogs 5-0 in game one on a rainy Tuesday afternoon.
The Runnin' Bulldogs put the first hitter of the game on base, as freshman second-baseman Samantha Meenaghan reached safely on a Charlotte 49er fielding error. However, the next three Gardner-Webb hitters went down in order, squandering its chance to take an early lead over the 49ers.
After Charlotte went down in order in the bottom of the first, GWU again had the lead off hitter reach base safely in the second, as sophomore outfielder Jane Savage singled to center field, again only to be stranded and keep the Runnin' Bulldogs off the scoreboard.
GWU's lone other hit came in the sixth off a Jordyn Arrowood single to third, yet failed to score, leaving two more runners on base.
Charlotte had only one hit, a single in the third, until its offense exploded in the bottom of the sixth, as the 49ers rapped out four hits, including a two-run single by Briana Gwaltney and a two-run double by Kalie Lang, and took advantage of a walk and a GWU fielding error to take a 5-0 lead.
In the seventh, the Runnin' Bulldogs went down 1-2-3, falling to the 49ers 5-0 in the first game of a non-conference twin bill.
GWU's Cindy Boomhower (3-7), who cruised through the first five innings, was handed the loss, giving up five runs, all unearned, on six hits, while striking out three in 5.2 innings of work.
Charlotte's Katy Hackett (9-6) earned the shutout victory, holding GWU to only two hits, while striking out five in seven innings.
The Runnin' Bulldogs, who left four runners on base in the contest, were led at the plate by Arrowood and Savage who were both 1-3 with a single.
For Charlotte, Lang was 2-3 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored, while Gwaltney was 1-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Game 2: Charlotte 11, GWU 9
After being shutout on only two hits in game one, the Runnin' Bulldogs offense awoke in game two, pushing across nine runs on 11 hits, only to be bitten once again by the big inning, as the 49ers plated eight runs in the fifth to pick up the 11-9 come from behind win over GWU.
Gardner-Webb got things going offensively in the first, as Arrowood drew a one out base-on-balls and then stole second. Redshirt-freshman first-baseman Morgan Baker then singled through the left side where a 49er throwing error allowed Arrowood to score all the way from first to put the visitors up 1-0.
With Baker on third, junior catcher McKenzie Morenus blasted her third home run of the season, a two-run shot over the left field fence, putting GWU up early at 3-0.
Charlotte battled its way back into the contest in the bottom of the second, as Gwaltney belted a two-run home run over the left field fence to cut the Gardner-Webb lead to one at 3-2 heading into the fourth inning.
In the top of the fourth, Gardner-Webb got one run back on a Rachel Jablonski RBI double to center field, scoring senior outfielder Kelsey Witter all the way from first to put the score at 4-2.
In the same inning, Meenaghan ripped a single to left where a fielding error by the 49er left fielder allowed Jablonski to score from third to give the Runnin' Bulldogs a 5-2 lead.
Again Charlotte answered in the bottom half of the inning, pushing across a run on a Chelsea Ingersoll double down the left field line to put the score at 5-3 in favor of the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Gardner-Webb's hot offense continued in the top of the fifth, as Charlotte's Katie Watkins issued three walks to load the bases with two outs. With the bases loaded, Jablonski was hit by a pitch to force in Baker from third to put the score at 6-3. With the bases still loaded, redshirt-sophomore Melinda Dulkowski singled up the middle to score Savage to push the Runnin' Bulldogs lead to four at 7-3.
However, the Runnin' Bulldogs would be doomed once again by the big inning, as Charlotte scored eight runs on six hits and three walks, highlighted by a bases clearing three-run triple by Whitney Williams to left center field, putting the 49ers in front at 11-7.
The Runnin' Bulldogs refused to throw in the towel, battling back in the top of the sixth with back-to-back runs off a Savage RBI single and a Lindsea Hutchinson RBI sacrifice fly, cutting the 49ers lead to two at 11-9.
However, after holding the 49ers scoreless in the bottom of the sixth, GWU failed to score in the top of the seventh, as Charlotte held on for the 11-9 come from behind win.
Big South Pitcher of the Week Jessica Childers (3-6) suffered the loss, as the freshman allowed nine runs on eight hits, while striking out four and walking four over 4.1 innings.
Charlotte's Lang (2-2) picked up the win in relief of Watkins, surrendering two runs on three hits over the final 2.1 innings of the game.
At the plate for GWU, Baker was 2-2 with two walks and three runs scored, while Morenus was 1-3 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored. Jablonski was 1-2 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored, while both Savage and Dulkowski each had an RBI in the game.
For the 49ers, Gwaltney was 3-3 with a home run, a walk, three runs and two RBIs, while Williams was 1-3 with a triple, three RBIs and one run scored.
Gardner-Webb (6-14) will not have long to regroup, as the Runnin' Bulldogs return to action tomorrow afternoon for a non-conference double header versus North Carolina A&T at 2 p.m. in Greensboro, N.C.
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| Game 1 Box Score: Charlotte 5, Gardner-Webb 0 |
| Game 2 Box Score: Charlotte 11, Gardner-Webb 9 |
